Gold | Gold mining in Peru 2003
According to government estimates between 100.000 and 500.000 illegal miners in Peru are working in small-scale gold mining in mineral rich mountain areas in the Andes. Digging a mineshaft with explosives and using large amounts of mercury to extract the precious metal from the gold-containing stones, their work is grueling and unsafe.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Miner resting at the entrance of his makeshift goldmine, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Miners chewing coca leaves before starting work, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Coca leaves, the right stuff for endurance and confidence working in a artisinal mineshaft, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
artisinal miners preparing dynamite to open up their mineshaft, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Boys fixing up a rocky mineshaft with dynamite bars, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Señor Choquepata drilling the rock of his mineshaft containing a gold-vein, 2004
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Women working "las quimbalates", walking a millstone grinding the gold containing grit, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Mercury-gold amalgam, after heating resulting in gold nuggets, 2003.
Peru, provincia Puno, La Rinconado
Women climbing to the goldmines above La Rinconado to set up shop for the miners, 2003.
Peru, provincia Puno, La Rinconada
Wind-battered cheeks of a goldmine daughter, 2003.
Peru, provincia Puno, La Rinconado
Goldminers nearing the entrance of their mine, 2003.
Peru, provincia Puno, La Rinconado
Digging and constructing a new mineshaft, 2003.
Peru, provincia Puno, La Rinconado
Inspecting a new mineshaft, 2003.
Peru, provincia Arequipa, Mollehuaca
Miner leaving the mineshaft at La Capitana II, a registered mining company in Peru, 2003
Peru, provincia Puno, La Rinconada
La Rinconado, gold miners town at 5000m high in the Andes mountains, 2003.